France look to home for new manager

Tuesday 25 June 2002 23:00 BST

France will not appoint one of their three English-based managers as national coach because they are too expensive.

Arsene Wenger, Jean Tigana and Gerard Houllier have all been ruled out as replacements for Roger Lemerre, who is expected to be sacked next week following France's humiliating first-round exit from the World Cup.

French Football Federation vice-president Michel Platini said: "They are all under contract at big clubs and the renunciation of their contracts could cost us very dear."

Fulham have already told the FFF that they would want at least £5 million in compensation if Tigana was released with one year left on his contract.

Platini said he has identified the man he wants, thought to be Lyon technical director Jacques Santini, who guided his club to the French title last season.

A second option is Platini's former France team-mate Alain Giresse, now in charge of Moroccan side Rabat.